Law Commission holds symposium at The School of Law

The Law Commission's symposium in the School of Law involved over 100 leading experts in criminal law and mental health.

The Law Commission's symposium in the School of Law involved over 100 leading experts in criminal law and mental health.

Held on 11 June, the purpose of the event was to engage with practitioners and experts from across the range of disciplines involved in unfitness, to plead procedures and to stimulate informed debate about the options for reform. There were plenary sessions addressing the five central areas for consideration. These were:

the formulation of the legal test

the screening and assessment of the accused (including consideration of special measures),

the procedure for unfit defendants

disposals, remission and appeals, and

unfitness to plead in the magistrates’ and youth courts.

Each plenary session was led by a panel of experts and followed by an open discussion of the issues.

The next publication on this project will be a report, which is due in Spring 2015.

Further information on the event can be found on the Law Commission website.